
Xeon E3-1280 vs Opteron 6366 HE

Xeon E3-1280

Opteron 6366 HE
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon E3-1280 is positioned at rank 517 and the Opteron 6366 HE is on rank 62, so the Opteron 6366 HE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6366 HE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6366 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Abu Dhabi (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6366 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E3-1280 and Opteron 6366 HE

Xeon E3-1280
The Xeon E3-1280 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,612 points. Launch price was $450.

Opteron 6366 HE
The Opteron 6366 HE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,613 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1280 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Opteron 6366 HE offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6366 HE has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 versus 3.1 GHz on the Opteron 6366 HE — a 22.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6366 HE uses Abu Dhabi (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1280 scores 5,612 against the Opteron 6366 HE's 5,613 — a 0% lead for the Opteron 6366 HE. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6366 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 16 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+26% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+94% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Abu Dhabi (2012) |
| PassMark | 5,612 | 5,613 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1280 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 6366 HE uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6366 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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